Eleven Angry People! Batman: Gotham Adventures 35 Review

Henry Fonda was a classic, legendary actor of The Golden-Age of Hollywood. One of his memorable roles was part of an all-star cast of Twelve Angry Men. Fonda is "Juror 8". None of the jurors are given names, just juror numbers. The cast is made up of character actor John Fiedler, best remembered from Star Trek, The Bob Newhart Show and as the voice of Piglet from Winnie the Pooh. Jack Klugman is "Juror 5". Martin Balsam, E. G. Marshall, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden, Ed Begley, Sr. and Robert Webb are all part of the jury. The film is a "bottle" story. Everything happens in the jury room. The story is about a young man on trial for murdering his father with a switchblade knife. Fonda's character makes passionate pleas to exam the case from every angle before rendering a verdict. It's an incredibly gripping drama due to every juror bringing their own personal bias and prejudices into their vote.

Scott Peterson channels that with "Stepping Forward". The spin is that Bruce Wayne is assigned jury duty to a case where he caught the suspect as The Batman. The other jurors believe the defendant is innocent. Bruce tries to persuade the jury members to examine the case from every angle. He also introduces the "shadow of doubt", by pointing out the defendant lied. 

The drama is mixed with some light-hearted moments. Bruce Wayne confessing under oath that he's Batman to get out of jury duty - and that not working. Discussing the case with Tim, while capturing more criminals. 

The final courtroom showdown is worthy of another courtroom drama, Perry Mason.

The ending is very similar to Twelve Angry Men. Bruce has a somewhat similar conversation on the courthouse steps as Fonda did with another jury member.

"Stepping Forward" is something completely different from the firm Peterson, Levins, Beatty, Loughridge and Harkins, Esq. Batman: Gotham Adventures 35 earns five stars.